Folding sides and top awning



June 10, 1952 N. L. ETTEN 2,600,227

FOLDING SIDE AND TOP AWNING Filed March 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

June 10, 1952 N. L. ETTEN FOLDING SIDE AND TOP AWNING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1950 JNVENTO}R.

June 10, 1952 v N. L. ETTEN 2,600,227

FOLDING SIDE AND TOP AWNING Filed March 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTHOFFICE" 2,600,227 FOLDING sums AND TOP AWNING Nicholas L. Etten,"Waterloo, Iowa 7 Application March 29, 1950, Serial No. 152,574

12 Claims.

1 This invention relates to awnings and particularly to a folding awning which may be extended over a window for shading it against light and heat, as well as protecting the open window against wind and rain, while at other times the awning may be collapsed and folded in a. smaller, compactand rigid manner against the house for secure storage and to protect the window and awning against severe storm and weather conditions.

It is the particular object of this invention to provide an awning that may be extended above a window to shade the window under normal weather conditions and then may be folded into safe, smaller, compact, collapsed position above the window.

Another object is to provide a folding awning comprising a hinged combination of its several parts that permit the use of lighter guage'materials that may be formed into smaller inter-connected parts that combine in a stronger hinged structure to attain greater overall stifi'ness and strength at lower cost.

.Another object is to provide a complete unitary awning that may be collapsed and packed in a small shipping container for warehousing and shipments at minimum cost.

And a still further object is to provide a simple mechanism to actuate the awning from open shading position into collapsed stored position and the reverse.

Other objects and benefits will be apparent from the following description and claims in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of my awning in open extended position; 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the center line of the awning as shown in Fig. 1 and showing the cord raising mechanism for raising the awning and showing in dotted outline the positions of the sections when in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the awning in closed folded position and showing in dotted outline the position of the sections about halfway between the open and folded positions and Fig. 4 is a small, broken, front sectional view as it would appear on the section lines 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing thearrangement of the control or lifting cord of the awning.

Now referring to the drawings and at the outset to Figs. 1 and 2, I designate the three top sections by the numerals I0, I I and I2 and the dual side sections by I3, I4 and I5. The top sections I and I I are hinged together by a stiff piano-type hinge I6 and the top sections I I and I2 by a similar hinge IT. The sides I3 and I4 are hinged together by the hinge I8 and the sections I 4 and- The top section III as shown in Fig. 2 is a stationary section being held together by side stiffener straps IIl-b along its outside edges. The section I0 is fixed to the window lintel by an angle element 2| fixed in a conventional manner to the window lintel by screws 23. In a similar manner the side sections I3 are held in position on the window frame by angles 22 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and conventional screws 23.

Now referring to Figs. 2 and 4 on the insides of the outer side sections I5 are pull brackets 24 hingedly mounting breaking levers 26 pivotally mounted on the bracket 24 by pivots 25. Connect ed to the pivotal levers 26 are cords 21 extending over off center guide blocks 28 on the inner sides of the sections I5 which lead the cord 21 into lifting pulleys 29 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be understood that tension exerted on the vertical sections of the cords 21 will pivot the breaking levers 26 in a clockwise direction that will have the effect of lifting the hinge I! in the direction of the arrow A as shown in-Fig. 2. Thus a pull on the cords 2'! will have the effect of collapsably folding the sections I2 and I I by'reason of the pivotal hinges 20 on the outside corners of the section I2. The breaking of the hinge Him the direction of the arrow A; e'fiectsan' almost straight folding movement of the sections I I and I2 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Continued pull on the cords 21 will deposit the folded sections II and I2 on top of the section I0 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At the same time and in the same movement side sections I4 and I 5 will be folded inside of the sections I3 as also shown at the right side of Fig. 3 and in dotted outline in Fig.2. Thus it will be apprepriated that the awning may be actuated into folded collapsed position as shown by the dotted outlines in Fig. 2, and thus will effectively resist wind storms and the like, asa'folded awning over the window as shown in Fig. 2,while it protects the window against such storms. It will be appreciated that when the topand side sections are folded together as illustrated, they are in excellent form to resist winds and will stay in the folded position until released by manual reverse unfolding outward movement onthe side sections I4 and I5. When the overcenter positions are released in this manner, the awning'can be lowered into unfolded extended position as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will thus be observed that my folding awning cannot be readily collapsed without the upward movement of the lever 26 to break the hinge H in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2. Thus, the awning in extended position is amply able to resist ordinary storms because of the overcenter interlock of the hinge connections as above described. In a similar manner, the awning cannot be extended into lowered positiohuritiltlft: overcenter position of the folded sections are overcome by manual movement on the side hinge sections l4 and l5 as described.

Now observing the folded position of the awning with the top sections folded as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2, and the side sections being folded as shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 2, and taking into consideration that the folded top and side sections are separately held in position by the screws 23 which preferably are mountediin a conventional bayonet joint to enable; quick removal and installation, it will be understoodthat my awning can be easily and quickly, broken down into three relatively small, flat sections ,composed of the folded top sections ,l.fl,.-.l l= zarid v l2, andthe six folded sections l3, l4 to-bemounted in a small fiatconta'iner. twill be understood that my awning can be collapsed in an easilyfinstalled condition in a very, small shipping carton 'or case.

r Erpm the foregoing drawings anddescriptions, itwill be appreciated that I have constructed an awning that may be fabricated from small, light metal sections that are effectively reinforced by edgegsupports such as hinges and similar stiffener 'mernbers, .'1he complete awning may be fully fabricatedinto three main component parts that maybe folded into a, small shipping, container that permits the complete awning to be readily and economically stored and shipped. When re- ,celved by thehouseholder, it may readily be assembled and installedwith a minimum of skill angl lahor, Y Further, when installed and in positiononthe house, it provides a sturdy all-season awningthat will resist the elements and provide a maximumof protection when in both open and closed positions. n H

having thus described my invention, I now claim as new "an, awning, atop composed of hinged sectionsfoldable into compact laterally horizon- .tal position a pair of sides composed of hinged sections foldable into compact vertical positions at the sidesv of the awnir 1g, pulley means at the rear of the awning, and cord means connected to, i he forward part of the awning and trained .Qlfi; Said pulley means to actuate the top and side sections ,,into folded compact positions.

2,. Inanawning, atop composed of hingedsec- ,tions foldable into compact horizontal position, a rpair of sides composed of hinged sections foldable intocompact vertical positions at the sides .of the ayvning underthe folded top, and cord means .connected to forward and rear partsof (the awning to actuate the top and side sections into fplded compact, positions. i

.3, In an awning, a topcomposed of at least rce sectio ns foldable into compact horizontal sition, a pair,of sidescomposed of hinged sec- .ltions i oldable into compact verticalpositions at the ts eseqfuthe a n and c s o .nected tg forward and rear parts of the awning to, ctuatethe top and side sections into folded pmtact osiiiecsthree sections foldable into compact horizontal position, a pair of sides each composed of at least three sections foldable into compact vertical positions at the sides of the awning, and cord means connected to forward and rear parts of the awning to actuate the top and side sections into folded compact positions.

5. In an awning, a top composed of at least three hinged sections, a pair of sides each composed of at least three sections f oldable into compact vertical positions at the sides of the awning, pivotal connections between the outer top and side sections, cord slip means at the rear of the awning, and cord means connected to a forward part of the awning and trained over said slip means to actuate the top and side sections into folded compact positions.

6. In an awning, a top composed of at least three hinged sections, a pair of sides each composed of at least three sections foldable into compact vertical positions at the sides of the awning under the top sections, pivotal connections between the outer top and side section's, cord slip means at the rear of the awning and cord means connected to the forward side sections and trained over said slip means to actuate the top and side sections into folded compact positions.

7. In x a fpldable awning, a "to comprising transversely hinged section's foldab'l'e [into superposed compact relationship, a pair of allo'chiral side members each comprising hinged section's foldable into compact juxtaposes vertical "relationship beneath said top, and means "to actuate said top and side members into folded'positiohs.

8. ln a foldable awning, 'a top comprisin transversely hinged sections foldable into super posed compact relationship, a pair of allochi'r'al side v members each comprising hinged 'sections toldable into compact juxtaposes vertical relationship beneath said top, a breaking lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the forward section of each side member, on'e end of 'eachsaid lever being disposed adjacentthe top"to"fo'fce a top section upwardly uponfoldin'gof'theawm ing, and cord means connected to the 'othe'r'nd of each lever to actuate the awning intofoldd position.

9. In a foldable awning ,a top comprising a top comprising a 'plurality'of sectionsa transverse hinge connecting adjacent sections whereby an outer section is foldable into superposed relationship with the rear section, a pair o f'allochiral side members each comprisinghinged sections foldable into compact juxtaposedwerth cal arrangement, means connecting at last one of said hinged sections to "said -outerto *seetisn. breaking levers mountedon the 'oute'r sections of said side members adjacent said top inposition to "elev ate the outer of said transversefhings when actuated, 'and'cord means connected to said levers, to actuate the same and move "the top and side sections into folded position.

10. In a foldable awning, "a 'topfcomprising transversely hinged sections foldable into-"superposed compact relationship, a painof'allochii'al side members each comprising hinged sections foldable into compact juxtaposedwertical relationship beneath said top, means to actuate said top and side members into 'folddposltionsfand a pivot'al connection between the outer 'top'section and each outer-side memberseedemsfid the top seamless" and side memter'eeeaoss being otherwise disconnected. 7

l1. An awning' comprisinga top-including a pluralityof successively interconnectedtop-panels foldable into superposedrelationship, apalr of sides each including a plurality of sections movable into juxtaposed vertical relationship beneath said top, means connecting said top and sides together for concurrent movement of said top panels and sections, and means for actuating said top and sides.

2. An awning comprising a fixed top panel, a pair of fixed side panels secured to said fixed top panel, a plurality Of hingedly connected top panels foldable over said fixed top panel, a plurality of side panels retractible to positions between and in juxtaposed relation to said fixed side panels, and means connecting said retractible side panels and said foldable top panels together for concurrent actuation thereof.

NICHOLAS L. E'ITEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 196,572 Everett Oct. 30, 1877 1,748,293 Jones Feb. 25, 1930 

